Growlers: Very limited, but it seems that they’ve usually got one or two of their taps open to growlers according to the website. The cans were our priority so it’s possible there are more growler options available in person that we just don’t remember seeing.

The Beers: Damn do these guys have a big lineup. As the West Coast’r of the bunch, I knew the least about Night Shift before heading their way and for whatever reason sort of just assumed they canned four or five beers that we were going to pick up at the brewery. Soooo that was wrong on several levels. Not only did we walk out of there with six different four-packs, but there were still enough different brews on tap for us each to get a four-beer tasting AND a full pour of whatever else we thought was interesting. Here’s what we had:

Pfaffenheck (could not have pronounced this more wrongly when ordering) - Bright crisp traditional pilsner

One Hop This Time Mosaic - American IPA single hopped with Mosaic hops

One Hop This Time Topaz- American IPA single hopped with Topaz hops

Morph - American IPA for smooth sipping with a dank and hoppy finish

It’s really tough to nail down a favorite from this list. A lot of them came home with us as cans, and my personal favorite of those was the Morph. The Trifecta fits into the category we talk about all the time, "Worth a Shot," where the flavors are so unique and layered that I’d recommend any beer drinker try it regardless of whether you like it or not. I believe we also unanimously thought the OHTT Mosaic was the best pour we had while at the brewery itself and were all big fans of the wine-must-laced saison as well.

Vibe: I was a huge fan of this space. It was a no brainer for me to do the write up for these guys, mainly because I was so impressed by what Night Shift has done with their bar, seating, brewery, and staffing.

The brewery is on a street with mostly corporate/industrial buildings surrounding it, but they managed to maintain some of the warehouse feel for this place in the best sort of ways. Really high ceilings, an unapologetic concrete floor, and long bench style seating to supplement the bar make this feel exactly as a successful craft brewery should in my mind. You can see into the brewery section of the building from the seating area which I’ve always been a fan of as well. I understand they don’t want us fools traipsing around anywhere near the tanks, but it’s great to have a view of the brewery when enjoying their pours. While we all really liked the contemporary set up of Foam Brewing and the amongst-the-tanks feel of Burlington Brewing Company, Night Shift really makes you feel like you're in the know at a rising star of the beer world.

We got to Night Shift around 12:30 in the afternoon on a weekday (don't you judge us!) so it understandably was pretty quiet, but we did see about a dozen different people walking by us with cases of cans as we approached. Once inside, I couldn’t help but picture how great the space would be for events, parties, or whatever else might require a big, chill space.

We got PHENOMENAL service from the two bartenders who were there and they were even kind enough to not make fun of me (too much) for mispronouncing Pfaffenheck into some other unrecognizable word. We asked a whole bunch of questions about the brewery and some of their more unique beers and they were clearly excited to engage with us about new beers, seasonal releases, their personal favorites, etc.

I’m not sure what part of the write up this belongs in, but the artwork that these guys use deserves commending. Not only is it flat out cool looking, but it is unique, eye catching, and consistently spread around the area by local fans. On our walk over to the brewery we noticed several of the stickers as if they were adult breadcrumbs leading us to the treasure. The cans are some of my favorite, and the artwork continues into the brewery above the bar, on the beer listings, and of course on glasses, stickers, and all their other swag.

Shane's Thoughts: I've been trying to find an excuse to get to Night Shift for a long time, and boy did it ever deliver. I'm having a hard time imagining how they could have a better vibe. The open, warehouse-like space really fits them, and on hot days (like the day we visited) the ability to grab a flight and sit outside just can't be beat. It's a little out of the way in Boston, which is kind of nice--you don't have to worry about it getting overrun the way you do at, say, Harpoon. Overall a really great experience, and I look forward to going again.

Dogs: Not sure. I would bet a fair amount of my worth that they’d be fine having dogs in there, at least during the warm months when they can open the bay doors, but there were none there when we visited.

Price ($ to $$$$$): $$$. The cans that you can buy on retail are not cheap but certainly fair for the quality and complexity their beer has. The brewery itself is again, fairly priced for the quality and ambiance. Most pours are 12-16 oz and come in at $6-8.

Food: Just snacks to keep you going in case you started off with a couple pours of The 87. This seemed like the kind of place that might often partner with food trucks or other vendors like that.

Final Thoughts: I wish this place were near me. I’d very quickly become a regular based on the venue, staff, and beer combination. It’s not the easiest place to get to without assigning yourself a DD for the night, and is definitely underwhelming as you approach. That aside, there is very little to complain about otherwise. I do wonder if it would be a slightly different experience in the cold weather when they can’t have the big garage bay doors open (which we really enjoyed), but even then, the space is so large that I imagine it provides enough of an open feel to make up for it. Top notch beer, great brewery space, excellent service; well done Night Shift!